Vladimir Lukin: Talks With The Usa Are Necessary Regardless Of Whether Washington Renounces Abm Treaty

Negotiations with the USA are necessary regardless of whether Washington renounces the 1972 ABM /Anti-Ballistic Missile/ Treaty or not, said vice speaker of the State Duma /lower parliamentary house/ Vladimir Lukin /the Yabloko faction/. He told journalists that Russia must not let the world's strategic balance be destroyed, which implies guaranteed retaliation in case of first nuclear strike. This is our major goal and there may be no compromise, noted Lukin. The MP added that all nuclear powers are interested in jointly discussing and solving the NMD /the national missile defence, which the USA intends to deploy/ problem. In Lukin's opinion, the fact that US President George W. Bush phoned Russia's head of state Vladimir Putin testifies to the US administration's preparedness to negotiate the issue with Russia.